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Mexican killings spotlight Mormon history with polygamy

FILE - In this Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019, file photo, Austin Cloes points to a photo of his relative Rhonita Miller and her family, who were killed in Mex... FILE - In this Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019, file photo, Austin Cloes points to a photo of his relative Rhonita Miller and her family, who were killed in Mexico, on a computer screen, in Herriman, Utah. The recent slaying in Mexico of nine people who belonged to a Mormon offshoot community where some people practice polygamy shines a new spotlight on the ongoing struggle for the mainstream church to fight the association with plural marriage groups because of its past. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)

FILE - In this Oct. 6, 2018, file photo, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints President Russell M. Nelson prays during the church's twice-a... FILE - In this Oct. 6, 2018, file photo, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints President Russell M. Nelson prays during the church's twice-annual conference, in Salt Lake City. The recent slaying in Mexico of nine people who belonged to a Mormon offshoot community where some people practice polygamy shines a new spotlight on the ongoing struggle for the mainstream church to fight the association with plural marriage groups because of its past. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued a statement expressing sympathy for the victims, while also pointing out the people didn't belong to the church. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)

FILE - In this Oct. 25, 2017, file photo, women, who are members of a community on the Utah-Arizona border that has been home for more than a century ... FILE - In this Oct. 25, 2017, file photo, women, who are members of a community on the Utah-Arizona border that has been home for more than a century to a polygamous sect that is an offshoot of mainstream Mormonism, gather for a photograph, in Colorado City, Ariz. The recent slaying in Mexico of nine people who belonged to a Mormon offshoot community where some people practice polygamy shines a new spotlight on the ongoing struggle for the mainstream church to fight the association with plural marriage groups because of its past. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)

FILE - In this Oct. 25, 2017, file photo, a woman and a young girl hold hands for a photograph, in Colorado City, Ariz. They are members of a communit... FILE - In this Oct. 25, 2017, file photo, a woman and a young girl hold hands for a photograph, in Colorado City, Ariz. They are members of a community on the Utah-Arizona border that has been home for more than a century to a polygamous sect that is an offshoot of mainstream Mormonism. The recent slaying in Mexico of nine people who belonged to a Mormon offshoot community where some people practice polygamy shines a new spotlight on the ongoing struggle for the mainstream church to fight the association with plural marriage groups because of its past. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)

FILE - In this Feb. 10, 2017, file photo, Kody Brown, left, from "Sister Wives," a popular TV reality series about a polygamous family, marches during... FILE - In this Feb. 10, 2017, file photo, Kody Brown, left, from "Sister Wives," a popular TV reality series about a polygamous family, marches during a protest at the state Capitol, in Salt Lake City. The recent slaying in Mexico of nine people who belonged to a Mormon offshoot community where some people practice polygamy shines a new spotlight on the ongoing struggle for the mainstream church to fight the association with plural marriage groups because of its past. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)

FILE - In this Sept. 26, 2015, file photo, people attend a memorial service in Hildale, Utah, for 12 women and children swept away in a deadly flash f... FILE - In this Sept. 26, 2015, file photo, people attend a memorial service in Hildale, Utah, for 12 women and children swept away in a deadly flash flood in a community on the Utah-Arizona border. The community has been home for more than a century to a polygamous sect that is an offshoot of mainstream Mormonism. The slaying in Mexico of nine people who belonged to a Mormon offshoot community where some people practice polygamy shines a new spotlight on the ongoing struggle for the mainstream church to fight the association with plural marriage groups because of its past. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

FILE - In this Sept. 26, 2015, file photo, community members from Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Ariz., attend a memorial service in Hildale, Utah,... FILE - In this Sept. 26, 2015, file photo, community members from Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Ariz., attend a memorial service in Hildale, Utah, for 12 women and children swept away in a deadly flash flood in a community on the Utah-Arizona border. The community has been home for more than a century to a polygamous sect that is an offshoot of mainstream Mormonism. The recent slaying in Mexico of nine people who belonged to a Mormon offshoot community where some people practice polygamy shines a new spotlight on the ongoing struggle for the mainstream church to fight the association with plural marriage groups because of its past. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The slaying in Mexico of nine people who belonged to a Mormon offshoot community where some people practice polygamy spotlights the mainstream church's struggle to distance itself from its history with plural marriage.

The victims' connection to the faith featured prominently in headlines this week about the attack on American women and children living in Mexico. There's no indication they were targeted for their religion.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued a statement Tuesday expressing sympathy for the victims, while pointing out they didn't belong to the mainstream church.

Church scholar Patrick Mason says the faith was likely hoping to end confusion that's common when news breaks about polygamous sects.

Early church members practiced polygamy in the 1800s, but the church disavowed the practice in 1890.